Thursday March 9th
Against my better judgement, Lucy and I attended the private birthday party for Downtime, which was heaving with guests who all shared the same love for a free bar on a school night.
Lucy, dressed in skinny jeans and a sleeveless cape, went in first, heading towards the nearest open space at the bar.
‘Two tequilas, please,’ she requested, smiling at the contoured girl I’d seen here previously. ‘And a couple of vodka tonics – no ice in mine.’
‘It’s roasting in here,’ I complained, taking off my coat. My armpits were already beginning to stick to my top. ‘I won’t be able to stand this for too long.’
‘Yeah, yeah,’ she replied, rolling her eyes. ‘Nothing to do with the fact that you’ve shagged the amnesiac manager.’
‘Shhh!’
We took our shots and downed them, wincing as the alcohol burned in our throats. Lucy sucked on her lime, demanding I point Jay out.
I scanned the room, spotting him in a booth near the back. ‘Over there,’ I indicated, trying not to look obvious. ‘White shirt, brown hair. Beside the woman in the blue dress.’
‘Oh my.’ She took a sip of her vodka tonic. ‘I can see why you’re pissed about this. He’s hot. I’d want him to remember me.’
‘I’m notthatbothered!’ I protested. ‘Sure, he’s good-looking but—’
‘He looks dirty,’ she continued, ignoring me. ‘He looks like he’d leave a handprint.’
‘Stop it.’
‘He looks like the kind of guy who would spit on his own cock.’
I started to laugh but subsided when I noticed him waving me over.
‘He’s waving you over,’ Lucy confirmed.
I waved back. ‘Right, let’s say hello.’
As we walked towards his table, Lucy whispered, ‘He looks like the kind of guy who would change the safe word during sex and not tell you what it was.’
‘I will kill you . . . Hi, Jay! Great party. Thanks for the invite!’ Oh God, did he hear her? Was I blushing? I hoped not. I hoped that Estee Lauder Double Wear covered both imperfections and mortified-as-fuck syndrome.
‘Glad you came,’ he replied. He smiled at Lucy, who in turn smiled back, though I could tell she was secretly wondering if he had a sex swing in his office.
‘Sorry, Jay, this is my friend Lucy. She also works atThe Post.’
‘Admin,’ she informed him, shaking his hand. ‘I’m not one of the sales wankers.’
He laughed. ‘Good to know. Listen, have a drink, and I’ll try and catch up with you later, Phoebe.’
I nodded and pulled Lucy away before she had the chance to ask to see his office.
Forty minutes and two tequilas later, I’d relaxed enough to forget about my history with Jay. Unfortunately, Lucy hadn’t.
‘If you weren’t with Oliver, I’d be telling you to fire into him,’ she declared, licking the excess salt off the back of her hand.
I sighed. ‘Why? Because the first time was so memorable for him? I think not.’
‘Hmm – actually, scrap that. If I wasn’t with Kyle . . .’
‘Behave. I have to work with this man. In fact, now would be a good time to leave. Wait here while I say bye.’
Lucy bolted to the bar to get one last shot in while I made my way over to Jay; he was just heading into his office.
